Collapsible scaffolding



Nov. 28,' 1967 G. F. SCHAFER 3,354,596

COLLAPSIBLE SCAFFOLDING Filed April 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORMay 62mm Edam/we G. F SCHAFER COLLAPS I BLE S CAFFOLDING Nov. 28, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1966 I NVEN TOR. GEORGE F. S CHAFER.

United States Patent C) 3,354,596 COLLAPSIBLE SCAFFOLDING George F.Schafer, El Tahoe, Calif. (P.O. Box AV-Bijou, Lake Tahoe, Calif.) FiledApr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 545,028 3 Claims. ((Il. 52-646) ABSTRACT OF THEDESQLOSURE The present invention involves an articulated assembly ofparts for a portable scaffolding, such as might be used for repairing,cleaning, painting or adding parts of equipment to an establishedbuilding. The scaffolding consists of four corner posts having a lowerelongated cylindrical portion and an upper portion which telescopes intothe lower portion. Between at least two of these posts there is alazy-tong connection having one side connected to the lower cylindricalportion of each post and at its other side to the upper telescopingportion of the post. These telescoping portions of the corner posts areof a dimension that will permit a complete collapse of the lazy-tongconnections therebetween so that the scaffold to be collapsed when notin use and stored away with a minimum of space requirements and/ or fortrans port from one job to another.

My present invention relates generally to scaffolding and moreparticularly to a scaffolding assembly having articulated parts whichform a unit that can be extended in a novel manner for use and collapsedas a unit for storage with a minimum of space requirements.

'The object of the invention is to provide a scaffolding arrangementhaving corresponding vertical supporting columns with telescopic partswhich will permit a setting up or collapsing of the scaffolding in asimple and expeditious manner. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, collapsiblescaffolding assembly that will better meet strength and safetyrequirements, that will not be excessive in weight and which may befixed or locked in an extended manner for use or in a collapsed positionfor storage in a novel manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a high clearancescaffolding assembly which may be expanded for use or moved from placeto place for use or collapsed as a unit for storage. I

:', A further object of the invention is to provide an articulatedscaffolding arrangement which is assembled 'as a unit and in which anumber of units may be empioyed in superimposed relation as a verticalcolumn for any desired height for a particular maintenance or repairproblem.

. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be in part evidentto those skilled in the art and in part pointed out hereinafter in thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitationpreferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of my scaffolding assembly in an extendedcondition,

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the assembly in FIGURE 1, as partiallycollapsed,

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the scaffolding assembly as shown in FIGURE1,

FIGURE 4 is a side view showing three similar scaffolding assemblies assuperimposed one upon the other,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view showing a modified assembly, and e e3,3545% Patented Nov. 28, 1967 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary end view of theassembly of FIGURE 5 as extended.

There has been an urgent need for relatively inexpensive, safe andpractical scaffolding equipment, such as may be used for repairing,cleaning, painting, renovating, and adding installations or equipment tobuilding constructions. This is particularly important for use withpublic buildings, such as churches, halls, office buildings andfactories. The so-called rolling tower or build-up type of scaffold isgaining acceptance in this connection, in that it does not requirehitches that mar or damage the building construction and may be safelyutilized and collapsed for storage in a smaller area.

I have discovered that there is a definite problem involved in producinga relatively simple and compact, space-conserving and collapsible typeof scaffold construction which will satisfy the requirements where asingle unit or assembly provides the supporting action. With myscaffolding equipment, the tedious and expensive moving and setting upoperations are eliminated. As a result, repair or maintenance within anenclosed area may be effected more easily and the particular room spaceinvolved may be more quickly placed in a productive and usefulcondition.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a detaileddescription of the invention, wherein the numeral 19 designate generallyeach of four vertically extending load supporting columns having anouter and lower tubular or cylindrical portion 11 and an associatedtelescopic upper portion 12. Between these adjacent columns 10 there isa lazy-tong assembly in the form of crossed links 13 and 14 that arearticulately connected at one end to the lower tubular portions 11 ofthe columns If) and at their upper ends the links are connected to theupper telescoping portion 12 of the columns 10. For controlling theextension of the connecting links 13 and 14, there is a stabilizing unit15 having telescoping parts which include a cylindrical member 16 and anupper tel scoping member or rod 17 which is mounted in telescopingrelation within the cylindrical member 16. As shown, the apex betweenthe two crossed links 13 is connected to the movable telescoping member17 and the lower end of the cylindrical member 16 is connected at theapex of the two connected crossed links 14. With this arrangement, itwill be seen that as the columns 10 of the scaffolding are moved towardeach other from the position as here shown, the upper telescopingportions 12 of these columns will be extended upwardly as will also bethe rod 17 with respect to its associated cylindrical portion 15, whichwill, in effect, move downwardly. The dimensions of the crossed links 13and 14 are such that when the lazy-tong assembly is collapsed theextensions provided by the telescoping members 12 will permit thecolumns It to move into close relation with each other as shown inFIGURE 2. When this occurs, with the tong-like connecting linkarrangement collapsed, the scaffolding may then be stored in thiscondition with a minimum space requirement when not in use.

At this point, it should be added that a scaffolding, having fourcolumns, may have similar lazy-tong stabilizing links 13 and 14 alongeach side thereof and while the same lazy-tong linkage arrangement mightbe employed along the two opposite ends of the scaffolding, I have, forpractical reasons, shown in FIGURE 3 the scaffolding of FIGURE 1 ashaving a single pair of crossed stabilizing links 18 and 19. In thiscase, like the lazy-tong links 13 and 14, these crossed link 18 and 19are connected at their lower ends to the cylindrical portion 11 of thecolumns 10 and at their upper ends they are connected to the verticallymovable upper portion 12 of the columns. With this arrangement, it isseen that when the lazy-tong linkage arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 1,

is collapsed, as shown in FIGURE 2, a corresponding closing of thecrossed links 18 and 19 will also occur. This is explained by the factthat the opposite ends of the connecting links 18 and 19 are connectedbetween the relatively movable telescoping parts 11 and 12 of thecolumns 10. As shown, each of the columns of the scaffolding assemblydescribed above are provided with a caster 20 of conventional designwhich may be with or without a brake. Therefore, when thu equipped, itwill be seen that to extend the scaffolding for use it will be onlynecessary to exert a separating force between any of the two adjacentcolumns 10, either along the sides or at either end thereof. When thuscollapsed, all of the columns 10 will move toward each other in alldirections and form a compact bundle as indicated in FIGURE 2 of thedrawing.

As a further feature, it will be noted that the upper movable portions12 of the columns 10 have an extension 21 with fixed collars 22 thatwill form a bearing or supporting face for a corresponding, superimposedcolumn 10, which will be open at their lower ends when the casters 20are removed. When the upper portions 12 of columns 10 are thus equipped,it will be possible to superimpose my number of similar scaffoldingarrangements to provide for a platform or planking 23 with a guard rail24 at the uppermost extension thereof. In this instance, the planking 23will be carried by cross beams 25 having holes through which theextensions 21 are extended. As a further stabilizing and/or safetyfactor, it will be noted that each of the columns 10 are provided withset screws or other locking means 26 and the stabilizing unit 15 willhave a similar such screw 27.

While the simultaneous extension and/or collapse of the sides and endsof the scaffolding, as above described, may find many advantages, it hasbeen found where a number of these scaffolding assemblies are to bemounted upon each other in superimposed relation this operation can bebetter carried out if the lazy-tong connection is extended independentlyof the crossed link connection at the end thereof. This will ermit anoperator to assemble two columns at each end of the scaffolding at oneposition, whereas if all four of the columns are to be simultaneouslysuperimposed this would be a difficult operation and perhaps require atleast four workmen, one at each corner, to assemble the four corners ofthe scatfolding when fully extended in both directions. Therefore, toovercome this difficulty, I have, in FIGURES 5 and 6 of the drawings,shown the crossed stabilizing links 18 and 19 as sliclably connected tothe upper telescoping members 12 of the columns by sliding collars 28through which the upper telescoping portions 12 will freely moveindependently of the condition of the crossed stabilizing links 18 and19. In this latter instance, with the crossed stabilizing links 18 and19 movable independently of the extension of the upper telescopingportions 12 of the columns 10, it will be seen that the scaffolding maybe extended along both sides independently of the spacing between thecolumns 10 at the ends thereof.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose myinvention so that the same can be readily understood, described andillustrated specific forms and arrangements, I desire to have itunderstood that this invention is not limited to the specific formsdisclosed, but may be embodied in other ways that will suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that thisinvention is new and all such changes as come within the scope of theappended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In an articulated scaffolding assembly, the combination of aplurality of spaced and vertically extendable columns having a lowercylindrical portion for engagement with a supporting surface and atelescoping upper portion, a modified horizontally extending lazy-tonglinkage forming a spacing and stabilizing connection between saidvertically extending columns in which the extension of said lazy-tonglinkage will determine the exten sion of said telescoping upper portion,a vertically extending telescoping strut interposed between the upperand the lower links of said lazy-tong linkage by which the extension ofsaid lazy-tong linkage and the spacing of said columns may be fixed bythe extension of said telescoping strut when the scaffolding is in use,a pair of crossed struts as a stabilizing means at the other op positesides of said assembly, whereby the scaffolding may be collapsed alongits lazy-tong extended dimension independently of the laterally spaceddimension of said columns, and characterized by the fact that the singlestabilizing means at the opposite sides of the scaffolding assemblyconsists of two pivotly related diagonally extending struts, eachsecured at one end to the base of the laterally spaced verticallyextending columns and slidably mounted at their upper end to thetelescoping portion of said columns by a slidable collar through whichthe telescoping portion of said columns extend.

2. In a completely articulated scaffolding assembly, the combination ofa plurality of spaced and vertically extendable columns having a lowercylindrical portion for engagement with a supporting surface and atelescoping upper portion, a modified horizontally extending lazy-tonglinkage forming a spacing and stabilizing connection between saidvertically extending columns, characterized by the fact that theextension of said lazy-tong linkage will determine the extension of saidtelescoping upper portion with respect to the lower cylindrical portionof said columns, and a vertically extending adjustable strut interposedbetween the upper and the lower links of said lazy-tong linkage by whichthe extension of said lazytong linkage and the spacing of said columnsmay be fixed when the scaffolding is in use, and characterized furtherby the fact that the vertically extendable adjustable strut between thelinks of the lazy-tong linkage consists of two permanently telescopingparts which, without any disconnection, will permit a complete collapseof said lazy-tong linkage for storage when the scaffolding is not inuse.

3. In a completely articulated scaffolding assembly, the combination ofa plurality of spaced and vertically extendable columns having a lowercylindrical portion for engagement with a supporting surface and atelescop' ing upper portion, a modified horizontally extending lazytonglinkage connected between and forming a spacing and stabilizingconnection between said vertically extending columns, characterized bythe fact that the ex tension of said lazy-tong linkage will determinethe extension of said telescoping upper portion with respect to thelower cylindrical portion of said columns and also characterized by thefact that said scaffolding consists of four vertically extendabletelescoping columns with a similar modified lazy-tong linkage extendingalong all four sides of the assembly and characterized further by thefact that an extension of any one of said lazy-tong linkages will resultin a corresponding extension and/or collapse of the other of saidlazy-tong linkages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,748,068 2/1930 Hood 248-2772,394,221 2/1946 Waltz 182-152 3,150,741 9/1964 Salerno 182-1523,190,406 6/1965 Usher 52646 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,095,145 12/1954 France.

4872 2/ 1913 Great Britain. 572,423 1/ 1958 Italy.

RBINAL Q P.- .MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN ARTICULATED SCAFFOLDING ASSEMBLY, THE COMBINATION OF APLURALITY OF SPACED AND VERTICALLY EXTENDABLE COLUMNS HAVING A LOWERCYLINDRICAL PORTION FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A SUPPORTING SURFACE AND ATELESCOPING UPPER PORTION, A MODIFIED HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING LAZY-TONGLINKAGE FORMING A SPACING AND STABILIZING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAIDVERTICALLY EXTENDING COLUMNS IN WHICH THE EXTENSION OF SAID LAZY-TONGLINKAGE WILL DETERMINE THE EXTENSION OF SAID TELESCOPING UPPER PORTION,A VERTICALLY EXTENDING TELESCOPING STRUT INTERPOSED BETWEEN THE UPPERAND THE LOWER LINKS OF SAID LAZY-TONG LINKAGE BY WHICH THE EXTENSION OFSAID LAZY-TONG LINKAGE AND THE SPACING OF SAID COLUMNS MAY BE FIXED BYTHE EXTENSION OF SAID TELESCOPING STRUT WHEN THE SCAFFOLDING IS IN USE,A PAIR OF CROSSED STRUTS AS A STABILIZING MEANS AT THE OTHER OPPOSITESIDES OF SAID ASSEMBLY, WHEREBY THE SCAFFOLDING MAY BE COLLAPSED ALONGITS LAZY-TONG EXTENDED DIMENSION INDEPENDENTLY OF THE LATERALLY SPACEDDIMENSION OF SAID COLUMNS, AND CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT THE SINGLESTABILIZING MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SCAFFOLDING ASSEMBLYCONSISTS OF TWO PIVOTLY RELATED DIAGONALLY EXTENDING STRUTS, EACHSECURED AT ONE END OF THE BASE OF THE LATERALLY SPACED VERTICALLYEXTENDING COLUMNS AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED AT THEIR UPPER END TO THETELESCOPING PORTION OF SAID COLUMNS BY A SLIDABLE COLLAR THROUGH WHICHTHE TELESCOPING PORTION OF SAID COLUMNS EXTEND.